Bob Pailor MBE – Director

Bob took up the post of Director of INCA in April 2009. He is well known in the Tees Valley and came to INCA from the position of Environment Manager with the Environment Agency (EA). His career spans more than 30 years in the Tees Valley, with 20 in senior management in the National Rivers Authority and its successor, the EA.

Bob has been closely associated with the cleaning up and bringing back to life of the Tees estuary, and achieving improvements in air quality. He was the inaugural chair of the Tees Valley Climate Change Partnership. He is presently Vice-chair of Hartlepool Local Strategic Partnership Environment Group and is a Director of the not for profit energy advice company, TADEA.

In 2002, in recognition of the national work he carried out during the Foot and Mouth outbreak, and his contribution to improving Tees Valley’s environment he was awarded the MBE.

Geoff Barber MSc – Senior Ecologist

Geoff has worked with wildlife on Teesside for nearly 20 years, initially for the Nature Conservancy Council and English Nature as the Conservation Officer for Cleveland before joining INCA in 2000. Over the years he has been involved in the discussions on many of the major industrial developments as well as the identification and designation of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA) and the more recent Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). In his formative years Geoff worked mapping sewers, polishing coffins, quality testing televisions, as an industrial chemist and teaching ecology and outdoor pursuits. His marathon time is under four hours.

Dr Robert Woods – Conservation Officer

Robert began his role at INCA in August 2007, having pursued a career in the chemical industry, initially as a Research and Development Chemist, but then in manufacturing, change management and training, much of this on Teesside.

His wealth of knowledge about and experience of manufacturing is supplemented by his passion for wildlife. Keen to work in conservation, he sought a career change and for a number of years he studied Environmental Conservation part-time at Oxford University, which led to his qualification as an Ecologist in 2007. His knowledge, experience and skill-base all fit well with the niche that INCA fills.

He has a life long interest in Entomology, especially Lepidoptera.

Ken Smith MBE. JP. MPhil. MRSC  – Consultant

With a background of chemistry and ecology, from 1959 – 1994 Ken worked for ICI, first as a chemist and then in Environment Department as Teesside Ecology Officer and eventually ICI’s corporate Senior Ecology Adviser. In 1988 Ken was leader of ICI team that worked with the Nature Conservancy Council (Natural England’s predecessor) to establish INCA on Teesside. His main interests are in birds, butterflies and dragonflies and the ways in which industry and wildlife conservation can be integrated.

For INCA members he has been closely involved with numerous ecological and ecotoxicological submissions under the COMAH regulations and in the preparation of site Biodiversity Action Plans.

Tracy Smith

Tracy has recently joined the INCA team as an Administrator, looking after the Accounts, Payroll and Office Administration. Having previously worked in Engineering Sales for various Bearing & Roller Chain Companies whilst living in South Africa, and working in Administration  for the past 10 years, INCA is a new and exciting challenge. Tracy is looking forward to being involved in some of the fieldwork which INCA carries out and is interested in learning more about INCA’s role within its niche.

Tracy enjoys the outdoors, whether it is walking Roseberry Topping, a stroll on the beach or being away with the caravan. She is also a keen gardener, enjoys cooking, reading, crosswords and knitting.